Geranium plant named ‘Pacmeta’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Pacmeta’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double purple and red purple bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Pacmeta’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pacmeta’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new semi-double flowered Zonal Geranium cultivars with dark green-colored foliage and attractive flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2003 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.

The cultivar Pacmeta was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since December, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pacmeta’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pacmeta’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double purple and red purple bi-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Penlava’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,698. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Penlava’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more freely flowering         than plants of ‘Penlava’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Penlava’.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Penlava’ differed         slightly in flower color.     -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had shorter and thicker         peduncles than plants of ‘Penlava’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacmeta’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Dresden, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the autumn and winter and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were four months from planting when the photograph and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Pacmeta’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright to rounded plant habit; densely             foliated. Moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basal             branching habit with about five lateral branches developing             per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 7 cm to 10 cm. Diameter:             About 7 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 6 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             Close to 139A; venation, close to 146B. Developing and fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 146B. Zonation pattern: Not discernible. Petiole:             Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.             Flowers face upright to outward; flowers flat to slightly             cupped. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about eight             flower umbels per plant each with about 25 to 30 flower buds             and open flowers.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from             April until frost in the autumn. Flowers persistent.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten             days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on             the plant. Umbel height: About 6 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 12 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Roughly elliptic. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About seven. Length: About             2.5 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 78C;             central blotch, close to 57A; towards the base, close to             155D; venation, close to 57A. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 75C; towards the base, close to             155D; venation, close to 57A.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About one to five. Length:             About 1 cm to 2 cm. Width: About 2 mm to 10 mm. Shape:             Irregular. Apex: Rounded to acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 78C; towards the base, close to 155D;             venation, close to 57A. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 75C; towards the base, close to 155D;             venation, close to 57A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 152A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Darker than 146A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 4 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About ten. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther shape:             Tubular. Anther color: Close to 200A. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 163C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape:             Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 60A. Style length: About             3 mm to 4 mm. Style color: Close to 60C. Ovary color: Close             to 148B.         -   Seeds.—Seed development has not been observed on plants of             the new Zonal Geranium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about     1° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden     performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacmeta’ as illustrated and described. 